Improvement in amalgamators for gold and silver



W. A. PALMER AMALGAMATOR FOB GOLD AND SILVER.

No. 36,963. Patented Nov. 18, 1862 which the cone A passes.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

W. A. PALMER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN A MALGAM'ATORS FOR GOLD ANDSILVER.

. Specification formingpart of Lcitcrslatent No. 36,963, dated N v m 1 1 62- To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, \V. A. PALMER, of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Heating Gold and Silver Amalgamators by Steam; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description of the same, reference.

of an ainalganiator in such a manner that the pulp or crushed ore within the pan will be gent! y heated while the process of amalgamation is going on, and the steam chest. or chamberbe capable of being readily removed when worn by the agitator or mixer so as to be unserv'iceable and a new one adjusted in its place, the pan at the same'time not being subjected to any wear, and consequently lasting an indefinite period.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the pan or tub of a gold or silver amalgamator, which may be constructed in any of the known ways. In the drawings it is represented of circular form, and is provided at its center wit-ha eonc, A. This is commonly termed the Knox pan.

B represents an annular plate, the diameter of which corresponds with that of the lower part of the pan A. This plate has a flange, G, at the underside, which extends all around it at its edge and projects downward a suitable distance to form a support for the plate. A similar flange, D, also projects down around a central aperture, a, of circular form, through These flanges C D rest upon the bottom b of the pan when the plate 13 is fitted therein, and a chamber, E, is formed by said flanges between the plate B and the bottom of the pan, as shown clearly in Fig.1. The outer edge of the plate B and flange 0 should fit snugly against the inner side of the pan, and the inner central flange, D, should fit snugly around the cone A. The plate 15 may be secured to the bottom I) of the pan A by means of screws or bolts a.

.F is a steam-pipewhich passes through the bottom b of the pan and communicates with the chamberv E. G is an escape-pipe, which also communicates with the chamber E and admits of the escape of steam and water of condensation from said chamber.

The operation is as follows: The pulp or crushed ore is placed in the pan A with a requisite amount of quicksilver, the plate B forming a false bottom for the same, and the steam 1S admitted into the chamberEthrough the pipe F, the pulp or crushed ore being thereby heated while it is agitated and mixed with thequicksilver by-the rotary mixer. (Not represented.) Vhen the plate B be: comes worn by use, it maybe readily removed and a new one adjusted in its place. Heating amalgamators by steannl am aware, is not new; but hitherto the steainhas been introduced underneath the bottom I) of the pan. Afalsc bottom could not be used aboveit, as there would be in that case a double thickness of metal for the heat to pass through,

' and that would prevent the 'pnlpor ore being V properly heated. The bottom b,thcrefore, when worn through, renders the pan useless and a new one is required, which involves consider able expense.

By my invention the pan is not sub ected to any wear, and consequently will last lndcfinitely, while the plate B, with its ilangcsnnay be renewed at an inappreciable cost.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with an amalgamating-pan,v A, a steam chest or chamber, E, formed of a removable plate or false bottom, 3, provided with one or more flanges at its und r side, sub stantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

W. A. PALMER.

Witnesses.

Jno. O. Hanscon, W. L. PALMER. 

